Travertine Hot Springs
By the HotSpringsFind editorial team · How we compile records · Reviewed September 2026
Travertine Hot Springs is a primitive hot spring listed near Bridgeport, California. Reported soak temperature: 103°F. See the visit fact sheet.
Stop on Highway 395 Hot Springs — see all stops, ordered south to north.
Current status
Free BLM day-use pools outside Bridgeport; open but very popular, and BLM periodically locks the access-road gate for multi-day Tribal ceremonial closures — check the BLM Bishop Field Office alert page for current orders before visiting.
Checked December 2025 · verified against an official source · 4 sources ↓
Staying overnight?
Bridgeport is the town base; check the dirt-road approach before setting out.
Bridgeport is about 2 mi from the spring (straight line).
We may earn a commission from bookings through these links, at no extra cost to you.
Before you go
- Status: Open — last verified below — confirm via BLM — Travertine Hot Springs ceremonial closure order (Bishop Field Office).
- Cost: Reported free access — fees and permits can change, confirm before visiting.
- Getting there: Reported 0.2 mi trail — confirm the route, road, and seasonal access.
- Water: Reported soak temperature 103°F — always test the water before entering.
- Rules: Reported clothing-optional; reported dog-friendly.
- Conditions: check weather, fire closures, and land-manager alerts the week you go — mountain access changes seasonally.
- Reservations/permits: None needed for day use
- Best time to go: Weekday mornings and sunrise; weekends and sunset are packed
- Clothing reality: No official BLM clothing rule; nudity is long-standing custom and widely tolerated; legal gray area — no county ordinance found, state law only bars lewd conduct.
- Kids: Allowed.
- Cell service: spotty — download maps and tell someone your plan.
- Accessibility: Short walk from parking but uneven, rocky terrain around pools; not wheelchair accessible
- No camping at or near the springs — posted and enforced (incl. tribal patrol writing citations)
- Recurring multi-day ceremonial closures: 2025 order closed it Jun 17-23, Sep 19-25, Dec 18-24; similar closures expected around solstices/equinoxes
- 1-mile dirt access road not maintained in winter and impassable when wet — vehicles get stuck
- No glass; pack out all trash
- Pit toilet at parking lot is the only facility
- Hazard: Scalding source water feeding pools
- Hazard: Muddy/rutted access road traps vehicles when wet
- Hazard: Red spider mites reported in area
About this spring
Cluster of primitive rock-and-travertine soaking pools on a travertine ridge ~2 miles southeast of Bridgeport, managed by BLM, with views over the high desert toward the Sierra Nevada. One of the most visited natural hot springs on the US-395 corridor; clothing-optional use is long-established. Pool temps commonly ~95-110°F; upper pools near the source can be dangerously hot. Occasional short BLM closures for tribal/cultural use. Dirt road not plowed in winter. Upper pools can be scalding — test water before entering.
Travertine's pools sit on a low travertine ridge on BLM land about two miles southeast of Bridgeport, looking across the high desert toward the Sierra Nevada crest. A short, rough dirt road off Jack Sawyer Road ends at a signed BLM parking area, and the pools are a brief walk from the lot. Reported soak temperatures run roughly 95–110°F across a cluster of rock-and-travertine basins — the upper pools nearest the source can run dangerously hot, so test the water before stepping in.
The site is free for day use and long-established as clothing-optional. Two rules matter more than etiquette here: camping is prohibited at and near the springs and is enforced, and BLM periodically locks the access gate for multi-day Tribal ceremonial closures — the 2025 order covered the June, September, and December solstice/equinox windows, and similar closures are expected. Check the BLM Bishop Field Office alert page before driving out; the dirt road is not plowed in winter.
Directions & trailhead access
From Bridgeport, take US-395 south ~0.5 mile and turn east onto Jack Sawyer Road; continue ~1 mile onto BLM land on a rough dirt road to the signed parking area. Pools are a short walk from the lot.
California geothermal context
California spans several geothermal provinces: the volcanic Cascades and Modoc Plateau in the northeast, Sierra Nevada granite seeps along the eastern front, Mojave and Colorado Desert springs in the south, and the famously mineral-rich Big Sur coast. Fire season (roughly June–November) closes access to many backcountry springs without warning — always check for current fire restrictions.
What a primitive site means here
Primitive springs have no facilities: no changing rooms, no trash service, often no maintained road to the pool. Expect natural rock or gravel bottoms, water temperature that varies by spot and season, and other visitors who may treat the site informally. Pack out everything you bring, test the water before entering, and leave the pool cleaner than you found it.
Best time to visit
June – September (Late Spring through Early Autumn)High-altitude mountain access routes and backcountry trailheads can experience seasonal snowpack from November through May. Peak summer and early autumn provide clear trail access and pleasant evening soak conditions.
Fact sheet
| Reported soak temp | 103°F |
|---|---|
| Source temp (historical) | 115°F |
| Hiking distance | 0.2 miles (easy) |
| Access fee | Reported free — verify locally |
| Clothing policy | Reported clothing-optional |
| Pet policy | Reported dog-friendly |
| Geothermal data reference | NOAA Thermal Springs List (1980 archive) |
| Check land status | BLM — Travertine Hot Springs ceremonial closure order (Bishop Field Office) |
Travertine Hot Springs FAQ
Is Travertine Hot Springs open right now?
Free BLM day-use pools outside Bridgeport; open but very popular, and BLM periodically locks the access-road gate for multi-day Tribal ceremonial closures — check the BLM Bishop Field Office alert page for current orders before visiting. (Status verified against an official source, last checked December 2025.)
Is Travertine Hot Springs free?
Travertine Hot Springs is listed as free to access in Mono County, California. Fees and rules change — verify current status with the land manager before visiting.
What temperature is Travertine Hot Springs?
Travertine Hot Springs has a reported soak temperature of 103°F and a historical source temperature of 115°F in survey records. Historical data may not reflect current conditions — always test water before entering.
Is Travertine Hot Springs clothing optional?
Travertine Hot Springs is listed as traditionally clothing-optional in directory records. Confirm current rules before visiting, as policies change.
How far is the hike to Travertine Hot Springs?
The hike to Travertine Hot Springs near Bridgeport, California is a 0.2-mile walk (easy) from the designated vehicle access area, per public trail records.
Where to stay in Bridgeport
Bridgeport is the town base for Travertine. Stay in town, then check conditions on the separate dirt-road approach.
Bridgeport is about 2 mi from the spring (straight line).
We may earn a commission from bookings through these links, at no extra cost to you.
Sources & references
- BLM — Travertine Hot Springs ceremonial closure order (Bishop Field Office) — official · 2025-05
- BLM announcement — Travertine Hot Springs temporary closure — official · 2024-10
- calihotsprings.com — Travertine Hot Springs guide (rules/usage) — community · 2025
- hotsprings.co — Travertine Hot Springs (updated 2026) — community · 2026
Details above were verified against the named sources on their listed dates — conditions change, so recheck before traveling. · How we verify our data · Report a correction
Your private trip notes
Saved only in this browser — not published or shared.No private notes yet
Keep access details and observations for your own planning.